Adjustable carrier for conveyer systems



A925129; 1952 M. R. wEiNGARTEN 2,595,182

AJUSTABLE CARRIER FOR CONVEYER SYSTEMS Filed Oct, 7., 1948 INVENTORMQRRIS R WEINGARTEN Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES fsf ENT OFFICE.v

.ADJUSTABLE 'ostgoe eoNvEYERI Morris R. Weingarten,l Lancaster,.:Pa.,assigner to Radio Corporation. oi. Americar a. corporation of DelawareApplication October 7, 1948,SeriallNof5341? 1I)v Claims. 1 Thisinvention relates :to carriers for conveyor systems and moreparticularly: to an adjustable carrier for engaging workpieces-.ofdiiierent sizes in a .critical manner.

Massproduction` methods of manufacture' make liberal use. of conveyorsfor `transporting work pieces from station to' station; One element. ofa conveyor system comprises the carrier which is in actual supportengagementwith. thework pieces.V In someinstancesthe shapeandiragilityof the work-pieces createiproblemsthat directly concern the` carrier ofa'y conveyor system.. In addition to being suitable for handlingafragile and irregularly shaped object, such asa .cathode ray tube, in acriticalmanner, the carrier may also be required totransport` theworkpieces. in an. inclinedpath betweenstations located at differentlevels. Furthermore, in instances where the workv pieces arezofdifferent sizes, it isznecessary-thatthe carrier be adjustable -toaccommodatethe differences in size of the work pieces. Cathode raybulbs, for example, come in different sizes, thus; making: adaptabilityof.` a. conveyor system.`to. different sizes of' bulbs animportantcharacteristic; Moreover, since it' is` the function of a conveyorsystem to receiveand deliver work pieces in a. plurality of'loadingand'lunloading. operations', it is. important that-these Aoperationsfbeeasily accomplished;

It. is 'accordingly an. objectuof the invention Sto providefanimproved'carrier fora conveyor system totthereby widen the usefulness ofthesystem.

.Another object isto provide an easy and accurately. adjustable carrierfor a conveyor 'system .toadapt the system to diierently sized workpiecesuand' to specially shaped objects such as cathoderay tubes.

AI further object is to provide a carrier for transporting work piecesin an inclinedpath'.

A-z-still `further Objectis to provide afcarrier for a conveyor :systemvfor supporting fragile Aobjects against breakage;

Anzadditional object vis'to providea carrier for a conveyor system thatcontributes Ito vcasein loading and .unloading operations..

Furtherobjects andadvantages ofv the inventionwill. become. `apparentas-'the present descriptionproceeds.

.Referring-.to the drawing:

Iigure` -1 showssa :front-elevation `off thecarrier ofthe inventionsupporting a \cathode.-rayl bulb;

Figure: 2v is` a cross-section along the vlinef2---2 of,A Figure 1 andshowsthemeans -for'engaging the-.walls of therbulb;..;r

Figure isa section along 3.-.-3 of. Figure vl-and illustrates theadjustable feature-oi" the'carrier of the invention; and

Figure 4 is .a section along the line 4.-4. of

Figure` 1 and shows a further: aspect of the adjustable feature of the.carrier.

Referringto the drawing ,in greater detail, there is shown inFigure 1the improvedcarrier. ofy the invention.y This'carrier includes-arms I0and. I-I havingfree endsA I2 and I3 onwhich are mounted inserts I4r andI5- made-of a .material thatresuits inV a minimumofharm tothe load andwhich may be.V plywood.` The load inthe' illuse trated example acathode, ray tubeI I6,V vthe conical wallsof whichxareengaged Iby 'theinserts I4 and I5. The carrier is supportedfrom de.- pending member I1,which mayride on roller I 'Ia engaging anoverheadirail. ITIb.` Suitablepower means, not shown, is employed -forfcausing. .the carrier to travel.on .the frail. `EIFlrie arms Ivzandxl I terminate: in. upper-elongated:portions Iipand n I9,' more Vclearly-.shown inrFigurez-B,whichzportions areT disposed overlapping. :relation for ay purpose l-tobe more fully described".hereinafter. The carrier also includes 1a-yokeor1manifo1dip20 having two passageways yM.l andV 22 extendingtherethrough for receiving the-upper' end-portions I8-and I9-of the armsI Brand-I Ir.

Accordingfto .theinvention theends I2; I 3. of arms Ill,r II and theinserts I4 and I5' mounted onsaid ends are spaced suiiicientlyto `engagethe'` cathode ray bulb I6 at-aiportien Ofitszconical wall, which willresult in:ahangnasupport; of thef-bulb Iby theicarrier; Forapropercarrying out of the-inventiomit isz-essential that-the inserts I4and I 5 engage.` a wall portion of. the bulb-that is-spaced a`criticaldistancefironr the ends thereof. This reoluu'esza criticalspacing of the inserts .I4 Iand I-5 fromeach:other:v Iifthis spacing istoo large, for example greaterv than the largest diameter: of the bulb;the entirerbulb 3 with a consequent toppling of the bulb from thecarrier.

In accordance with the invention therefore, means are provided forcritically adjusting the space between the inserts I4 and I5. This meansincludes the yoke 20 and the passageways 2l and 22 extendingtherethrough, as well as the elongated end portions I8 and I9 of arms IBand I I. As shown in Figure 3, the elongated end portions referred toextend into passageways 2| and 22 for sliding movement therein. Each ofthese passageways is provided with vertically extending grooves 23 and24, the grooves in each passageway being spaced from each other apredetermined and critical distance. The elongated end members I8 and I9are also provided with grooves 25 and 26 extending transversely thereofand parallel to the grooves 23 and 24. Grooves 25 and 26 are alsocritically spaced from each other" but the spacing therebetween isdifferent from the spacing between grooves 23 or 24. This difference inspacing is designed to permit a vernier adjustment between the yoke 20and each of the elongated end members I8 and I9.

The manner in which this Vernier adjustment is accomplished isillustrated in Figure 3. It will be noted that in the position of theelongated end member I9 shown, only one of the grooves 23 thereon is inregistry with one of the grooves 26 on the yoke 20. This is because thespacing between adjacent ones of groove 26 and adjacent ones of groove23, is not the same. Thus, the spacing between adjacent grooves 26 isslightly greater than that between adjacent grooves 23. In causing theend members I8 and I9 to slide through the passageways 2I and 22,therefore, diiferent grooves will assume registry depending upon theposition of the end members I8 and I9 in the passageways. Once a desiredposition of the end members in the passageways has been reached,cylindrical members 21 and 28 having knurled knobs for convenience inhandling, are inserted into the cylindrical spaces provided by theregistering grooves, to iix the end members in the yoke.

The difference in spacing between adjacent ones of grooves 23 and 26 andbetween adjacent ones of grooves 24 and 25, may be made suiiicientlysmall to permit an extremely fine adjustment in the separation of arms Iand II, and consequently, in the spacing of object supporting inserts I4and I5. In addition, the yoke 2i! and elongated end members I8 and I9may be provided with calibrations indicative of the spacing suitable forspecific objects. This extremely fine adjustment is particularlyadvantageous in handling cathode ray bulbs since the shape of theconical portion of the wall of the bulb which is engaged by the carrierof the invention, is of such character that a slight variation in theseparation` of inserts I4 and I5 results in a substantial longitudinalshift of the bulb on the carrier. This ability to give a longitudinalshift to the bulb on the carrier is desirable for a proper positioningof the bulb there-f on, but'unles's a line' adjustment of the carrier ispossible this shift may be large enough either to cause the bulb to Slipthrough the carrier, or to dispose the center of gravity of the bulbabove the inserts I4 and I5 to thereby cause the bulb to topple from thecarrier, as has been indicated before herein. The support of the carrieron member l'I for oscillation in one plane is advantageous whenemploying the carrier for transporting objects 4 in an inclned path fromone level to another. In this situation the carrier is mounted in such afashion as to cause its plane ofA oscillation to coincide with the planein which thedirection of travel lies. As a consequence, the carrier andthe object supported thereby will always depend vertically from supportI'I whether the path traveled by the carrier be horizontal or inclined.A further respect in which the carrier of the invention is particularlysuitable for transporting cathode ray bulbs is the ease with which itpermits bulbs to be loaded on the carrier' and removed therefrom. Asshown in Figure i, the spacing between the bulb support inserts I4 andI5 is smaller than the largest diameter of the bulb, butlarger than adiameter of the neck portion 29 of the bulb. Thus, a slight lifting ofthe bulb i6 from its support results in clearance between its walls andthe supporting in serts I4 and I5.

The inserts I4 and I5 may be made of a resilient heat insulatingmaterial such as wood and as shown in Figure 2 may be provided with aV-shaped edge for engaging the bulb wall, or if desired, this edge maybe rounded. This shaping and composition of the inserts accomplish firmbut resilient engagement thereof with the side wall of the bulb when thebulb is resting thereon but affords an easy release when the bulbis'slightly raised therefrom. The heat insulating character of theinserts I4 and I5 is important in that it avoids strains that mightresult from the engagement of a hot bulbby a cold metal body.

It will therefore be appreciated that the carrier of the inventionaifords a firm and resilient support for fragile objects whilepermitting the objects to be easily mounted 4thereon and removedtherefrom. In manufacturing operations wherebulbs are frequently movedfrom one conveyor system to another, these characteristics are of greatimportance. In addition, the carrier of the invention is criticallyadjustable to make it suitable for a variety-of differently sizedobjects and particularly for use with cathode ray bulbs where theportion of the wall to be engaged is critical.

Various modifications may be made in the invention without departingfrom its spirit and scope as pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: u

1. A conveyor system comprising a conveyor rail and an object carriersupported on said rail for travel thereon and for oscillation-'in oneplane, said carrier comprising a pair of Vmembers having spaced parallelsides, legs on said members extending toward each other in opposedrelation, the ends of two of said legs being in registry and spaced fromeach other to form tongs for receiving an object to be carried, twoothers of said legs extending towards each other in overlappingrelation, means for slidingly receiving said two others of said legs andfor adjusting the separation of said first mentioned two'legs, saidmeansV including a yoke' having scalloped inner' walls, and means forxing the vseparation of said others of said legs, said vmeans comprisingtwo rods engaging a scallop bnv each of said walls and said other ofSaid legs.

2. A carrier for a conveyor system comprising a tong-shaped memberhaving two arms and a transverse portion therebetween, the free ends ofsaid arms being spaced to receive an object to be transported by saidcarrier, and means for varying the length of said transverse portion toessere@ accommodate said free ends to diierently sized objects, vsaidmeans comprising a slide yoke` hav= iri'g-ftwo; passagewaystherethrough, saidY transverse. portion comprising 'twoseparate members4slidably disposedin said passageways, said inemb'rs and said.passageways. having opposedI recesses therein, forming two. cylindricalspaces when. in register, two cylindrical members'. disposed insaidetwo.spaces: for` xing said two 'separate-members withre'spectto said'yoke,the wallsA of said passageways including raised"`sur facesbetween. saidrecesses spaced to permita successive opposed disposition of saidrecesses with respect to the recesses in said two separate members.

3. A carrier for transporting an object in an inclined path, comprisinga tong-shaped structure having a transverse portion supported foroscillation in the plane of said path, whereby said tong-shapedstructure depends vertically while traveling in said path, the free endsof said tong-shaped structure having a shape to substantially conform toa contour of said object, and means for varying the spacing between saidfree ends, said means including a yoke having two passageways extendingtherethrough, the transverse portion of said tong-shaped structurecomprising two mutually movable arms, said arms extending into saidpassageways for sliding movement therein, and means for iixing saidmovable arms with respect to each other and said yoke, said meanscomprising walls in said yoke and sides of said arms having recessesforming tubular spaces, and rod-like members snugly tting into saidspaces.

4. A carrier for transporting an object comprising a tong-shapedstructure having free ends for engaging said object, and means forvarying the separation of said free ends for accommodating the carrierto differently sized objects, said means comprising a yoke having twopassageways extending therethrough and supported in a vertically pendentposition, said passageways having vertical grooves spaced from eachother a predetermined distance, said tong-shaped structure including atransverse portion comprising two separable elongated portions, saidseparable elongated portions extending into said passageways for slidingmovement therein, said portions having vertical grooves spaced from eachother a distance different from said predetermined distance, wherebyonly one groove in each of said passageways and one groove on each ofsaid portions are capable of opposed relation at one time to form twotubular spaces, and two rod-like members filling said spaces for fixingthe position of said portions with respect to said yoke.

5. An object carrier for a conveyor comprising a U-shaped structurehaving free ends for engaging an object to be transported and means forvarying the spacing between said free ends, said means comprising thetransverse portion of said U-shaped structure and a yoke having twoparallel passageways extending therethrough, said transverse portioncomprising two separable elongated arms extending into said passagewaysfor sliding movement therein, and means for xing said arms in saidpassageways in a critically adjusted relation, said last-named meanscomprising transversely grooved sides on said arms and walls in saidpassageways having grooves oppositely disposed with respect to saidtransversely grooved sides, only one groove on each of said arms andsaid passageways being capable ofregi'stryat one time, thek "r o oner'said-ansYadfhe'walrof-rone Y y sageways beingY capable of regi'strysuvsiv'ely in response to a' slidingmovemept orsaidionegfoi; said membersin said onefof said'passageways, and a rod tting snugly into saidgrooves? whenl in registry.

6. An object carrierfor a conveyor comprising two members having atadjacent ends thereof two arms disposedV in overlapping relation, theopposite -ends offsaid members being spacedi-from each other to receivetherebetweenan. objectif-so be carried, and means for adjustably fixingsaid two arms with respect to each other to permit said spaced ends toaccommodate differently sized objects, said means comprising a yokehaving two passageways extending therethrough for receiving said twoarms, said passageways having a plurality of recesses on one wallthereof, said arms having a plurality of recesses on one side thereoffacing said one wall, and a rod-like member having transverse dimensionsso as to iit between said one wall of said passageways and said one sideof said arms when two opposed of said recesses are in registry.

7. A carrier as claimed in claim 4 and wherein resilient heat insulatinginserts are mounted on said free ends for resiliently engaging saidbulbs.

8. A conveyor for conically shaped objects including a pivoted support,a tubular member mounted on said pivoted support, a pair of oppositelydisposed supporting arms having extensions slideably received withinsaid tubular member for permitting movement of said arms toward and awayfrom each other, said tubular member and said extensions having recesseswhich can be registered to form tubular chambers, means for locking saidarms against relative movement, said means comprising a rod-like memberextending into a registered one of said recesses, and insulatingsupporting elements carried on the free ends of said arms and having V-shaped recesses therein for receiving a conical object therebetween.

9. A conveyor for conically shaped objects including a pivoted support,a tubular member mounted on said pivoted support, a pair of oppositelydisposed supporting arms having extensions slidingly received withinsaid tubular member for permitting movement of said arms toward and awayfrom each other to vary the spacing therebetween, means for locking1saidarms against relative movement, said extensions and said tubular vmemberhaving recesses which can be registered to form tubular chambers, saidmeans including a pin received Within one of said tubular chambers. andheat and shock insulating supporting elements carried on the free endsof said arms for receiving a conical object therebetween.

10. An object carrier for a conveyor system comprising a pair of membersmounted in opposed relation to form a tonged structure adapted to carryan object, a yoke having walls deiining two passageways for slidinglyreceiving portions of said members for adjusting the size of saidstructure for receiving any one of different sized objects, said wallshaving elongated recesses therein, said portions having elongatedrecesses in surfaces thereof facing said walls. the recesses in saidportions being differently spaced from each other than the recesses insaid walls, whereby only one of said recesses in said walls is adaptedto be placed in registry with only one MORRIS R. WEINGARTEN.

REFERENCES CITED lo The following references are of record in the nie.of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Wright Oct. 8, 1918 Gehnrioh Aug.18, 1925 Harris Mar. 23, 1926 Hires Dec. 31, 1929 Breslav Nov. 10, 1936Jennings Sept. 7, 1937 Hapman 1 Mar. 25, 1941 Naysmith July 28.- 1942Breslav Dec. 21, 1943 Frederick Jan. 10. 1950

